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The Salmon Arm SilverBacks have restructured their Hockey Operations Department ahead of the 2014-15 season.

The Backs ownership group have added the title of Governor to Troy Mick’s job portfolio, which means the veteran bench boss had to step away from the bench as no coach in the BCHL is permitted to be a team’s governor. Mick remains as Salmon Arm’s President and General Manager.

It’s the second time with the SilverBacks that Mick has stepped back from the Head Coach’s position. Under the previous ownership, Mick started the 2012-13 season behind Salmon Arm’s bench and after two games at the BCHL Showcase, stepped down to concentrate on the GM duties and the club hired veteran Scott Robinson in his place.

Taking the reigns behind the SilverBacks bench this time is Brandon West, who’s been a Head Coach before at the Major Midget level with the Okanagan Rockets. He spent two seasons from 2009-11 in that role before joining West Kelowna as an assistant coach in 2011-12 and then signed on with Salmon Arm for the 2012-13 season.

Here’s the official release from the SilverBacks website:

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks Hockey Club Board of Directors are announcing today that effective immediately Troy Mick will be stepping into the role of President, Governor & General Manager and stepping back as Head coach.

“Having just completed our first year as the new ownership group of the Silverbacks, we have realized that Troy was wearing too many hats and we wanted to make some changes as we quickly approach the 2014/2015 season. The rule in the BCHL states that no one in the position of Head Coach can be a team Governor. We believe that Troy is an integral part of our Silverbacks organization and will be even more effective in his newly defined role and will prove beneficial in this role for the long-term viability of the franchise,” said Dale Unruh the outgoing Governor.

This move allowed for the perfect opportunity to promote a very deserving candidate to be our next Head Coach of the Silverbacks. We are extremely happy to announce that current Associate Head Coach, Brandon West, will take over as the new Head Coach of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, effective immediately.

Troy Mick, President, Governor & General Manager stated, “Brandon is ready to take this next step in his career. I have personally worked with him for the last 2 years and I know he is going to do a stellar job as Head Coach. His work ethic and technical abilities are second to none and his passion is shown every day at the rink. With his 3 years of being Associate/Assistant coach in the BCHL, he is ready for this.”

Brandon West has been building on his coaching abilities for over a decade, working with several teams from Major Midget to BCHL teams. West has also coached internationally with Hockey Canada at the World Under 17 Challenge in 2013.

“First off I would like to thank Troy Mick and our ownership group for this humbling opportunity. I am honored to be the Head Coach of this program and look forward to leading this group of great young men. Troy and I have been here for a couple years now and we continue to strive for success on and off the ice. The expectations of the players, and of myself will not change. I look forward to being the leader of this group and we will strive for a national championship and more scholarship opportunities for our players, while being a positive influence in our community.

For more information, contact Troy Mick at the Silverbacks Hockey Operations office at 250-832-3856, Ext 106.